s/o BC thread - Recs for kids who won't get in to BC or ND

[Anonymous]

Big New England Catholic family with family members at St. Joe’s, Providence, Fairfield, Stonehill, Merrimack and Assumption now. Alums from all of those as well as BC, Georgetown, Loyola MD, Holy Cross, and St. Michael’s. All are happy with their choices as each campus/offerings suited the person. Nearly all received scholarship/merit aid.

[Anonymous]

I had kids that went to ND and BC...then I had my youngest, who just did not have those stats. He applied to Providence, Fairfield and Dayton (and some others)...got into all of them and great aid from the latter two. Try those..they are all good choices. He ended up somewhere else, but that was because of fit...I think he really would have loved any of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's wrong with taking out loans? Everyone I knew did except for one friend. She was an only child and her parents sent her to Mt. St. Mary's which may be of interest to your son. She called me when she went to grad school and asked me, "So I am taking out a student loan. Does a loan mean I have to pay it back?" OMG. Loans mean your kid has some skin in the game.

We want our kids to start their adult lives debt free.

Actually, the $5500 a year is a drop in the bucket if you are looking at some of the institutions mentioned here that are $70K a year. And OP has to pay that our of savings or after-tax bucks. I firmly believe the child should have some skin in the game even if it is only $22 - $25K at the end. Also the PP immediately above fails to realize that the $5500 minimum is at such favorable rates that it makes much more sense to have the child take out the $5500 (it grows in amount every year of school) and then if the parents runs into some money pay it down! But those loan dollars will be at a much better rate of interest and payment terms than credit card debt, IRS debt, regular loan debt, refinancing your house debt, etc.

Yes, you stated above what you believe about "skin in the game." We don't share that belief and place a high value on graduating debt-free. Therefore we have done everything possible to ensure that our kids won't need to take out loans.

I wrote about "skin in the game" but didn't write about "$5500 a year is a drop in the bucket." That's great that you can afford that but the vast majority of people cannot hence my response (I didn't write the second one).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's wrong with taking out loans? Everyone I knew did except for one friend. She was an only child and her parents sent her to Mt. St. Mary's which may be of interest to your son. She called me when she went to grad school and asked me, "So I am taking out a student loan. Does a loan mean I have to pay it back?" OMG. Loans mean your kid has some skin in the game.

We want our kids to start their adult lives debt free.

Actually, the $5500 a year is a drop in the bucket if you are looking at some of the institutions mentioned here that are $70K a year. And OP has to pay that our of savings or after-tax bucks. I firmly believe the child should have some skin in the game even if it is only $22 - $25K at the end. Also the PP immediately above fails to realize that the $5500 minimum is at such favorable rates that it makes much more sense to have the child take out the $5500 (it grows in amount every year of school) and then if the parents runs into some money pay it down! But those loan dollars will be at a much better rate of interest and payment terms than credit card debt, IRS debt, regular loan debt, refinancing your house debt, etc.

Yes, you stated above what you believe about "skin in the game." We don't share that belief and place a high value on graduating debt-free. Therefore we have done everything possible to ensure that our kids won't need to take out loans.

I wrote about "skin in the game" but didn't write about "$5500 a year is a drop in the bucket." That's great that you can afford that but the vast majority of people cannot hence my response (I didn't write the second one).

That’s fine. If you need loans, you need loans. Nothing wrong with that.

A student doesn’t need loans to be invested in her education.

[Anonymous]

Why don’t you have your son go to a local community college for a year and concentrate solely on getting good grades in math and science courses. He could then try for BC or ND as a sophomore. Both woukd be more likely to take him with demonstration that he can master rigorous courses.

[Anonymous]

Xavier in Cincinnati, Loyola in Baltimore, or Villanova(might be a stretch)

[Anonymous]

What about St. Anselms in NH or St. Michael in Vermont?

Or further out, but with lots of aid, Regis in CO, Spring Hill in AL or Rockhurst in MO?

[Anonymous]

Providence, Villanova. Maybe Fordham?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Is it easier to get merit aid at one of these smaller Catholic schools?

Yes. The discount rate at mid-tier small liberal arts colleges is through the roof.

More on this: https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2018/04/30/nacubo-report-finds-tuition-discounting-again

The link above is quite old. Coincidentally, my junior DS’s background is a bit similar to op. He is at a Catholic HS in the DMV. From what I’ve read and heard, there is not much aid at Catholic universities unless you qualify for a Pell Grant. However, it is easier to get in if you are from a Catholic HS. Any others with recent experience?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Take the 529 and change the beneficiary to your younger child.

Why?

It will not count to financial aid calc. Start as high as you can for financial aid - change beneficiary back for junior year.

Too late for those tricks. They do a backwards look.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Is it easier to get merit aid at one of these smaller Catholic schools?

Yes. The discount rate at mid-tier small liberal arts colleges is through the roof.

More on this: https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2018/04/30/nacubo-report-finds-tuition-discounting-again

The link above is quite old. Coincidentally, my junior DS’s background is a bit similar to op. He is at a Catholic HS in the DMV. From what I’ve read and heard, there is not much aid at Catholic universities unless you qualify for a Pell Grant. However, it is easier to get in if you are from a Catholic HS. Any others with recent experience?

My HS senior has gotten large ($25k plus) merit aid from Providence, Catholic, Loyola C, and Manhattan. Currently in a Catholic HS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Is it easier to get merit aid at one of these smaller Catholic schools?

Yes. The discount rate at mid-tier small liberal arts colleges is through the roof.

More on this: https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2018/04/30/nacubo-report-finds-tuition-discounting-again

The link above is quite old. Coincidentally, my junior DS’s background is a bit similar to op. He is at a Catholic HS in the DMV. From what I’ve read and heard, there is not much aid at Catholic universities unless you qualify for a Pell Grant. However, it is easier to get in if you are from a Catholic HS. Any others with recent experience?

DD applied to Fordham, Villanova, BC and ND. Got into all. Fordham is only school that has offered merit aid. Villanova has not yet offered merit aid to its EA pool, but I expect she will likely get some sort of merit there as well. Either way, she will attend ND. From a Catholic HS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Is it easier to get merit aid at one of these smaller Catholic schools?

Yes. The discount rate at mid-tier small liberal arts colleges is through the roof.

More on this: https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2018/04/30/nacubo-report-finds-tuition-discounting-again

The link above is quite old. Coincidentally, my junior DS’s background is a bit similar to op. He is at a Catholic HS in the DMV. From what I’ve read and heard, there is not much aid at Catholic universities unless you qualify for a Pell Grant. However, it is easier to get in if you are from a Catholic HS. Any others with recent experience?

DD applied to Fordham, Villanova, BC and ND. Got into all. Fordham is only school that has offered merit aid. Villanova has not yet offered merit aid to its EA pool, but I expect she will likely get some sort of merit there as well. Either way, she will attend ND. From a Catholic HS.

Congrats! I believe Fordham gives out a lot more merit aid than Villanova, but sounds like your DD headed to ND anyway, great position to be in.

[Anonymous]

Yes, it is great, but I'm not sure how it is helpful to a poster that started a thread asking about alternatives to ND and BC for kids without the stats for those.

[Anonymous]

DS's friend got over 20k from both St. Joes and Xavier with a 31 ACT but only 3.4 GPA.